House passes motion against LoPBajwa over 'band player' remark
Chandigarh, March 17 -- The Punjab assembly on Monday passed a resolution condemning leader of opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa over his alleged 'objectionable' remarks against cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh.
The House descended into chaos when AAP MLA Manjit Singh Bilaspur moved a motion against Bajwa minutes before the assembly was scheduled to be adjourned sine die.
The motion was against the Congress leader's remarks in which he allegedly referred to the public works department minister as a band player (band vajaun wala).
On the first day of the session, the AAP leaders and workers held a demonstration with a wedding band outside the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. Bajwa, however, has categorically denied that his remarks had anything to do with Singh's caste.
As soon as AAP MLA moved the motion, the Congress legislators staged a walkout, calling the motion a 'diversionary tactic.'
In opposition's absence, the motion was passed with a voice vote before, and deputy speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri adjourned the House sine die.
Bilaspur stated that the House strongly denounces the 'shameful' comments made by Bajwa.
The resolution demanded that Bajwa tender an unconditional public apology for hurting the sentiments of the Dalit community. Earlier in the day, the House witnessed high drama when ruling AAP legislators arrived wearing white vests over their clothes to protest the alleged shortage of gas cylinders. The vests bore the slogan: "Narendra Modi ne kitta surrender, gayab hoya gas cylinder (Narendra Modi has surrendered; the gas cylinder has disappeared)."
The members stormed the well of the House, raising slogans against the central government.
Speaker Sandhwan repeatedly urged the members to maintain decorum and protest after the Question Hour, but the uproar continued, forcing a 20-minute adjournment....
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